Wayland men knock off Oklahoma Christian

Published 5:13 pm, Thursday, February 2, 2012

EDMOND, Okla. - The Wayland Baptist Pioneers used a 16-4 run in the late stages of the first half to propel themselves to a 78-58 upset win over Oklahoma Christian on Thursday.

It was Wayland's second straight Sooner Athletic Conference victory over an opponent that is among those getting votes in the NAIA Coaches Poll.

Wayland (10-12, 4-10) led 37-26 at the half and scored the first five points of the second period to increase its lead to 16. OC got as close as 13, 50-37, with 14:09 left in the game, but TJ Jacobs put in a pair of long shots over the next four minutes to make it 59-39.

Three Pioneers scored in double figures, led by Isaiah Jackson with 15. The senior power forward went 7-of-9 from the field and added five rebounds. Georgia Williams and Jacobs had 14 points each. Robert Curtis came off the bench to haul down 10 rebounds, and reserve point guard Taylor Cunningham passed out a team-high five assists.

WBU shot 65 percent in the first half and finished the game at 59 percent. They made seven of their 11 shots from beyond the arch and outscored OC 28-16 in the paint.

Coach Matt Garnett's team will attempt to make it three straight on Saturday in Alva, Okla., against Northwestern Oklahoma State University.